Numerical puzzle.



W. STEPHENS.

NUMERICAL PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17,1918

1,090,245, Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

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WINSTON STEPHENS, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

NUMERICAL PUZZLE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lVINsTON S'rnrnnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at 12 South Sixth street, New Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State of Massaehusetts, have invented a new and useful improvement in Numerical Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a numerical puzzle in which twenty-four (2i) numbered disks are placed in a certain form of tray in a specified order, and then moved according to stated rules to obtain a desired end in their rearrangement or order. I attain this object as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whieh- Figure A represents the tray with the numbered dis is in position to start doing the puzzlethe squares in tray numbered from 1 to 8 inclusive being left unoccupied. Fig. l3 represents the tray with the numbered disks in the spaces the; should occupy when puzzle is completedetters A, B, C, l), E, F, G, H, showing squares not covered by numbered disks when puzzle is done. Fig. C, represents a perspective view of tray sh i wing the respective length and position oi. partitions so that by marking seven lines across the bottom of the tray at right angles to the three partitions and equal distances apart, it divides the tray into thirtytwo (32) equal squares as shown in Fig. A and Fig. B.

The inventit'm consists of a shallow rectangular tray 1 l'laving vertical sides and ends and divided into four channels 2, 3, i and 5, of equal width by longitudinal partitions 6, 7 and 8 of a height equal to the sides, and twenty four disks 9, numbered from 1 to 2.4L and having a diameter approximately equal to the width of the channels. The bottom of the tray is further divided by seven parallel lines 10 at right angles to the partitions, spaced equally and at a distance equal to the distance between the partitions, thus dividing the bottom of the board into four series of squares 11, hav-- ing eight squares in each series. The pan titions (3, 7 and 8 do not extend through the entire length of the tray, the partition (3 extending from one end of the tray to a point spaced from the other end a distance equal to the sides of one of the squares 11, and the partition 8 extending in a similar manner but from the opposite end of the tiny. The middle partition 7 has each end spaced Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 17, 151-3.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

Serial No. 761,764.

from the ends of the tray. The channel 2 between the partition 6 and the side of the tray has its squares 11 numbered from 1 to 8 beginning at the closed end oi: the channel and the channel at has its squares 11 with the exception of the first designated by the letters A, 1), C, D. It, 1*, and G the squares in the closed end of the channel 5 imi'nediately adjacent the square Gr being designated by the letter H.

The puzzle is-to arrange the numbered disks iironi the position as shown in Fig. it so as to occupy positions as hown in Fig. 13 in the fewest moves possible, at most ninety three (93) and in doing so to be governed by the following rules: (1) Place numbered disks in tray as indicated in Fig. A, move one numbered disk at a time, without jumping one over another. (2) many consecutive squares may be passed over in one move as are not occupied by other numbered disks, calling it one move.

(3) The numbered disks must ultimately o be placed over their corresponding numbers in the bottom of the tray, and when so done and the spaces (or sruunres) marked A, B, (l, 1), i l, 1 G, H, left unoccupied the puzzle is completed.

'lherefore 1 claim--- 1. A puzzle device comprising a rectangular tray having four longitudinal channels, a communieation between the first and second channel adjacent one end of the tray, a communication between the third and fourth channels adjacent the opposite end of the tray and communications between the second and third channels adjacent each end of the tray and game pieces having distinguishingindicia and adapted to be shifted in the channels.

2. A puzzle device comprising a rectangular tray having three parallel longitudinal partitions, the partition adjacent one side of the tray having an opening to permit the passage of a game piece between the partition end and the end oi the tray, the partition adjacent the other ide of the tray having a similar opening at the opposite end of the tray and the middle partition having similar openings at each end of the tray, indicia designating equal spaces between one side of the tray and the adjacent partition, other indicia desiginiting similar spaces between the other partitions and a single space adjacent the other side of the tray, and game pieces bearing distinguishing In testimony whereof I aflix my signature indlcla arranged in a certain order between in the presence of two wltnesses.

the )artitions and between one oartition and one side of the tray so as to all ow one set of WINSTON STEPHENS indicia to remain uncovered and adapted In. presence ofto be shifted into another certain order so MABEL BURNI-IAM,

as to uncover the other set of indicia. AMY G. STEPHENS.

fiopiee of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents.

Washington, D. G. i 

